For Edmund, this was to be a rare day: A free day. Neither training nor studies were on the schedule, as per his teacher’s insistence.

“Working hard is one thing, but it’s important to allow yourself time to rest.” The words rang in the young tiger’s head. He knew there was truth to the lecture, Enigma rarely minced words, and yet it felt wrong to just take time to himself. Unsure of what to do, the feline found himself wandering the streets surrounding the Magistrum’s main campus.

Though just because one isn’t looking for trouble does not mean trouble isn’t looking for them. In Edmund’s case, “trouble” came in the form of a wolfkin. Almost without warning, the man with a lupine head leapt from walker-knows-where, careening at full speed, fists at the ready. Slipping back into the instincts honed from years of street brawling, the tiger tilted his body out of the way just in time to avoid the attack. And yet, before he had a chance to launch a counter-attack, the wolf had already returned to a neutral position.

Whoever he was, he was brash and reckless. Edmund wasn’t sure what smell was emanating from him, though he was certain he never wished to have that odor enter his nostrils ever again. That said, his opponent was also clearly a cut above the abusive punks he had spent much time beating on before enrolling at the Magistrum. More importantly, there was a fire in his eyes, burning brightly behind the strange tinted spectacles his newfound “sparring partner” was wearing.

Well, it was his day off. Edmund’s heart began to quicken along with his pulse. Beneath the fury of having suffered this indignity, the tigerkin began to internally smile. His teacher *did* tell him to cut loose and enjoy his day off. Getting into his own stance, he began to “return to his roots”, as he would later explain to Enigma when the dust settled.

---

Thanks so much to my friend EonSpec ( https://twitter.com/EonSpec ) for commissioning this from my other friend Wiki ( https://twitter.com/_WIKIPIXEL_ ). We've been talking for a while about what would happen if his character, Ivan, ever met my character, Edmund. And of course, since he went through all of the trouble of getting this I couldn't help but be inspired to give it some written accompaniment.

Both of them are awesome people who I am proud to call friends.

Ivan belongs to https://twitter.com/EonSpec
Art by https://twitter.com/_WIKIPIXEL_
Edmund belongs to me.